Ernst Ludwig Kirchner (1880-1938) was a German Expressionist Painter and involved with the foundation of Expressionism in 20th century art. Trained as an architect, Ernst founded an artist group known as "The Bridge", which was mandated with ignoring the traditional academic style of painting and finding a new way to express artistic styles. This bohemian group overthrew social conventions and was accepting of nudity, and other freedoms from established forces. The unconventional lifestyle allowed Ernst to express his artistic talents in a radically new format from established art styles. Our pattern set includes many of his known works including Marzella, Self Portrait as a Solider, Tavern, Nollendorfplatz, Erna, Fränzi in front of a Carved Chair, Bridge at the Mouth of the Weisseritz, Dr. Alfred Döblin, and Czardas Dancers.

Workers at the Dallas Museum of Art recently discovered that a Turkish mosaic owned by the museum had in fact been looted. The museum promptly returned the mosaic to Turkish officials.

The ceramic mosaic dates around 194 A.D. and depicts a scene of Orpheus (the "mythic poet") making music on a lyre. The piece is 64" by 60" and is a remnant of an ancient Roman building's flooring.

The artwork was looted prior to the Dallas Museum of Art's purchase of it in 1999. After the museum's director obtained the "scholarly opinions" of Turkish officials, it was decided that the mosaic was taken from ancient Edessa's site (this site is located in Turkey).

Good has come from the whole incident, as the return of the art piece to Turkey has sparked a program for art exchange between the Dallas Museum of Art and international museums of art.

Were cavemen more artistically accurate in their depiction of animals than modern artists? Researchers suggest they were. A recent study analyzed the artwork of Paleolithic people (those who lived in excess of 10,000 years ago) and modern-day artists. The study's results are surprising.

In the study, 1,000 sketches of four legged animals, which had been rendered by artists from both time periods, were analyzed by researchers. The researchers found that modern artists were incorrect in portraying the way animals walk about 57.9 percent of the time. Prehistoric artists were incorrect only 46.2 percent of the time.

It's speculated that the prehistoric artists' correct depiction of the gait of four legged animals was due to the fact that they must have been close observers of these animals. Paleolithic man no doubt had to pay much closer attention to animals than modern man in order to properly hunt and survive.

1) What artist included a self-portrait in all of his works?

Leonardo da Vinci

Salvador Dali

Edgar Degas

Marc Chagall

2) What French painter was a worker on the Panama Canal?

Paul Gauguin

Camille Pissarro

Claude Monet

Henri Rousseau

3) In what year was the first children’s book published?

1902

1854

1658

1622

4) Who of the following artists was a Spanish surrealist painter?

Frieda Kahlo

Juan Alfon

Diego de Arroyo

Salvador Dali

5) Which artist was left-handed?

Michelangelo

Pablo Picasso

Jackson Pollock

Gustav Klimt

Answer Key:

B

A

C

D

A

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner Leaves an Artistic Legacy

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner was born in Aschaffenburg, Bavaria, on the 6th of May in 1880. Kirchner would mature to become one of the most influential German Expressionist painters and printmakers in art history. He would also found a notable artistic group known as Die Brucke.

Kirchner studied architecture at the Konigliche Technische Hochschule, a technical university in Dresden. At the university, Kirchner had access to classes such as perspective drawing, art history, and freehand drawing. These classes helped him to mature as an artist.

While at school in Dresden, Kirchner befriended Fritz Bleyl. Bleyl and Kirchner had many commonalities and enjoyed studying nature and art together. Kirchner continued studying art in Munich from 1903 to 1904. He completed his degree in Dresden in 1905.

In 1905 Die Brucke (“The Bridge”), an artistic group, was founded by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Karl Schmidt-Rottluff, and Erich Heckel. After Die Brucke’s establishment, Kirchner totally committed himself to creating art. Because of this, the founding of the artistic group was a turning point for Kirchner and his career as an artist.

The goal of Die Brucke was to "eschew the prevalent traditional academic style and find a new mode of artistic expression." The group members hoped that this fresh expression of art would bridge together the present and the past (this is where the group's name, "The Bridge", originated).

Die Brucke embraced the art of Albrecht Durer, Matthias Grunewald, and Lucas Cranach the Elder. These artists represented the artistic past the group sought to link to the future. Die Brucke also celebrated international avant-garde movements, which represented the artistic future the group desired to link the past. The group members also breathed new life into woodcut prints and older media.

Kirchner's group, Die Brucke, was majorly impacting on 20th Century modern art. This artistic group actually helped to create the style known as Expressionism. Die Brucke's meetings took place at Kirchner's studio. Unconventional, non-artistic activity (of a sexual nature) was prevalent at Die Brucke's meeting place.

In 1906, Die Brucke's works were exhibited in K. F. M. Seifert and Co. in Dresden. The featured works majored on the female nude. Also in 1906, Kirchner befriended Doris Große, a woman who would become his "favored model" for the next 5 years. It was during these years that Kirchner focused his works on the female nude. He tended to depict the female nude in natural settings, which were inspired by the Moritzburg lakes, which he visited during the summer.

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner established a private art school in 1911 in Berlin. Teachers at this school taught modern painting techniques. Due to a lack of popularity, Kirchner's school closed in 1912.

After 1912, Kirchner's career as an artist really began to soar. His personal work was exhibited for the first time in 1914, solidifying his artistic standing. Kirchner painted mountain scenery for the remainder of his life, and in the later 1920's, his work was introduced to a larger German/Swiss audience.

Kirchner's art became so notable that around 1923 several prominent artists established an artists' association because of his work. Between 1925 and 1926 Kirchner made a "final trip" to Germany, where he would stay for the remainder of his life.

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner's life ended abruptly on July 15, 1938, when he committed suicide. The suicide may have been connected to the defamation and confiscation of Kirchner's art by the Nazis in 1937.

Although Kirchner's life ended tragically, his legacy lives on. A father of German Expressionist painting, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner continues to be studied by art students, and his art is celebrated worldwide. The efforts of his artistic group, Die Brucke, contributed greatly to the birth of Expressionism. Truly, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner's artistic accomplishments and contributions will never be forgotten.

The color a person chooses to paint their home reveals a lot about them. What color is your home? Is it time to make a color change? Your home should be a place where you can be yourself. Color really impacts how you feel about your home – that’s why it’s important that interior and exterior paint shades are chosen with care. Have fun choosing paint colors that will revitalize both you and your house.

Apparently, blue is the “color of the year” for 2013. This shade may be a perfect choice for someone who loves to follow trends. Blue would also work for families who simply love the color or want to give their home a beach cottage feel.